100 Years of NFL: The Safeties Quiz

Answer: Service in the US Army

Yale Lary was a Texan who played as a safety, punter and kick returner for the Detroit Lions for eleven seasons, 1952 to 1953 and 1956 to 1964, with two years missed in the middle for his service as a 2nd Lieutenant during the Korean War and its aftermath. As a "defensive halfback", Lary was very effective in protecting his zone. Despite a two-year hiatus, Lary returned with a vengeance and, over his entire career, intercepted 50 passes. When he retired, that was good enough for fifth-most all-time. All in all, Lary was named to nine Pro Bowls and won the NFL championship with the Lions three times (1952, 1953, and 1957).

Yale Lary was also an excellent punter. He led the league several times in the average punt distance, but, more importantly, he had incredible hand time to his kicks allowing his team to get downfield to defend the return. Lary had also been selected as a professional baseball player. Though he had an opportunity to play with the St. Louis Cardinals, he declined it. Afterwards, Lary played with several teams in the Texas League but decided to call it quits in 1957.

Answer: Most interceptions in a career.

Paul Krause played for seasons with the Washington Redskins and twelve more with the Minnesota Vikings. In the 1979 season, Krause's last in the NFL, week 14 against the Los Angeles Rams, Krause was tied with Emlen Tunnell at 79 interceptions for a career. December 2nd, 1979, second quarter and Krause caught one interception to break the tie, and then in the fourth, he caught a second pick to set the record at 81 interceptions for his career. The record still stood after the 2019 (100th anniversary) season.

An eight-time Pro Bowler, Paul Krause was an exceptional safety. Standing tall at 1.91 m, Krause was also fast and had a good perception of where the quarterback was going to throw. Krause would not win the Super Bowl despite going to the final game four times in his career. After football, Krause tried his hand at local politics and served for twenty years before retiring.

Answer: Kick returner

While Jack Christiansen was great at the safety position, he was also great at returning kicks. In his third NFL game, against the Los Angeles Rams, Christiansen was the first player in NFL history to record two punt return touchdowns in one game. Then, he did it again six weeks later against the Green Bay Packers!

With the Lions, Jack Christiansen was a three-time NFL champion (1952, 1953, and in 1957), and a five-time Pro Bowler. He led the NFL in interceptions, twice, and was a leader in the backfield for the team, so much that the defence was called Chris' Crew in his honour. He retired after only eight seasons, but was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1970.

Answer: Hair

Troy Polamalu was a great strong safety for twelve seasons for the Pittsburgh Steelers. With the team, he won the Super Bowl twice (XL and XLIII) and was named the Defensive Player of the Year in 2010. That year the Steelers lost the Super Bowl to the Packers.

Polamalu was drafted 16th overall in 2003. Though he didn't start a game the entire season, his performances were impressive enough for Bill Cowher to name him the starting strong safety in his second season. Over the rest of his career, Polamalu had 32 interceptions and 770 tackles, the large majority of them unassisted. He was named to the Pro Bowl eight times.

Troy Polamalu was well-known for his hair. In fact, he was the first NFL player to have his hair insured. Lloyd's of London insured it for a million dollars. He has also been in commercials for Head and Shoulders.

Answer: Pittsburgh Steelers

Donnie Shell played fourteen seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers. He was part of the 'Steel Curtain' defence that the Steelers fielded in the 1970s. During his long career (1974 to 1987), Shell hauled in 51 interceptions (an NFL record at the time for a strong safety), he was a five-time Pro Bowler, and his contributions in each of the Steelers' four Super Bowl wins was immense.

There was more than one occasion where Shell saved a potential touchdown in the big game. Nevertheless, Shell was only inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2020 as a part of the centennial class.

Answer: False

Ken Houston was a great safety from 1967 to 1980. He played for the Houston Oilers for six years and with the Washington Redskins for eight more. The Oilers didn't join the NFL until the 1970 season, so, Houston's first three seasons were played in the AFL. With the Oilers, Houston had nine interceptions that he returned for touchdowns as well as one fumble return for a touchdown. With the Redskins he had none.

In 1999, Ken Houston "was ranked number 61 on The Sporting News' list of the 100 Greatest Football Players". Ken Houston was one of those players who could anticipate where the ball was going to be and would be able to get there before the offence could. In 1986 he was inducted into the Hall of Fame after a career with 49 picks, 12 touchdowns, 21 fumbles recoveries and 12 Pro Bowl appearances.

Answer: Weapon X

Brian "Weapon X" Dawkins was an aggressive and effective safety for 16 seasons, the first thirteen with the Philadelphia Eagles and the final three with the Denver Broncos. He earned the nickname due to his aggressive play and relentless attitude just like the character Wolverine from the "X-Men" universe. He was named to nine Pro Bowls and played once in the Super Bowl, XXXIX, though the Eagles lost ultimately to the Patriots.

Brian Dawkins was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2018. He captained the defence on both the Eagles and the Broncos and energized the teams. He ended up with 37 interceptions, only two of them going back for a touchdown, but he did force 36 fumbles setting a record for safeties.

Answer: His own

The record was initially set at 108 yards but later adjusted to 107.

Ed Reed set the record for longest interception return in 2008. The Ravens were playing against the Philadelphia Eagles and Reed had already picked off Donovan McNabb for 43 yards leading to his benching. Backup quarterback Kevin Kolb fired a pass later in the game which Reed caught seven yards deep in the end zone. He ran all the way back for the touchdown setting an NFL record. The previous record, 106 yards, had been set also by Ed Reed, way back in 2004 when Reed intercepted Brown's quarterback Jeff Garcia.

Ed Reed spent twelve seasons in the NFL, eleven with the Baltimore Ravens and the last split between the Houston Texans and the New York Jets. He also set records for total interception return yardage, and most games with multiple interceptions in a career, amongst others. In his last season as a Raven he won the Super Bowl and he was a nine-time Pro Bowl selection. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2019.

Answer: US Coast Guard

Emlen "the Gremlin" Tunnell was an astonishing safety who could read offences and anticipate plays easily. He played for the New York Giants and the Green Bay Packers between the years of 1948 and 1961. His first eleven seasons were with New York and the final three in Green Bay. Prior to his NFL career, Tunnell was in the US Coast Guard where he received the Silver Lifesaving Medal for rescuing a shipmate in 1944.

On the Giants, Tunnell was often called the "offence on defence". He would intercept passes, return punts, and scored a lot of touchdowns this way. When the Giants offensive coordinator went to coach the Green Bay Packers, he took Tunnell with him; it was legendary coach Vince Lombardi. When he retired he held the record for most interceptions with 79, most return yards, a record that held for over forty years, most punt returns and punt return yardage. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1967 becoming the first African-American player to be named. After Emlen Tunnell retired he continued working for the team he loved, the Giants. In fact, he passed away from a heart attack while attending a Giants' practice. All in all, an amazing player.

Answer: Ronnie Lott

Ronnie Lott was the 8th pick overall in the 1981 draft and made a huge impact in his rookie season for the San Francisco 49ers (though he was actually named as cornerback). Picking off 7 passes, three of them returned for a touchdown, Lott was second in Rookie of the Year voting. The 49ers won the Super Bowl that year. In 1985 he switched permanently to safety and his numbers just kept getting better. For his last four seasons, Lott joined the Los Angeles Raiders for two and the New York Jets for two more.

Ronnie Lott was part of the first four 49er Super Bowl wins (XVI, XIX, XXIII, and XXIV) and was only one of five players to achieve this. He was a ten-time Pro Bowler, led the NFL in interceptions twice, and had his number, 42, retired by the 49ers.